Quantum EXO baitcaster

[ssaamm]

Anybody have any experience with these reels.? I'm usually a Shimano guy. I've got Curados, Citicas, and Calcuttas. They are excellent--- smooth and cast great. I usually drink the Lindners kool aid. They are sponsored and pushing Quantums now. I bought an EXO baitcaster. I can't stand it. I've monkeyed with the braking system, put it on different rods, changed line. I just can't get the hang of it. About ready to put it on hsolist. Any thoughts or tips would be appreciated. I almost went swimming today when the chord on my trolling motor snapped. That would have been entertaining to see.

[jalberg]

I bought a couple Quantum Smoke reels a few years ago. I'm looking forward to replacing them. Not a fan.

[smalliehunter]

I also have 3 smokes, they are good for about a season, now all have problems. love my shimano rods and reels tho

[corncob]

I gave up on my Quantum reels several years ago!....Smartest thing I've done, and am enjoying various reels from Shimano ever since.....

[RuddyDuck]

So what issues are you having with it? No Distance, alot of backlashes? Do you cast or pitch with it more and what type of baits? Guess just trying to figure out exactly what isn't working.

[KickNBass]

Sell it on IDO, everybody there is in love with Quantum for some reason. Love the site, but don't understand the Quantum love.

[Nick Kuhn]

I've had my Smoke for 3 years and never had an issue with it.

[ssaamm]

Hi Ruddyduck, if I lighten the braking system I get backlashes. I usually try throwing heavier cranks with it like Dt-10's and rat l traps. I just can't get the same smooth fairly effortless cast I can get with my Shimanos. Again, I hate to compare them to my Curado 200e, but I paid $200 for it. It should be pretty good. I spool it with 12-15 Lb FC typically. Went back to an old Calcutta. Vast improvement. I'd like to give it another chance or find it a home. I'd figure the breaking system under the plate is where my problem lies. I appreciate any help. I'd rather not be a whiner. I want this thing to be great. It is light. I'll give it that.

[RuddyDuck]

What is the internal brake dial set at? Maybe start with the middle setting if it is on a lesser setting. Yeah, one would think for $200+, that it should cast those baits with no problem.

I have a Quantum trail tourney(cheaper reel) and it casts good. It has an internal dial, but magnetic brake too. I usually set it at 1, plus turn the magnetic up as needed. I know the Exo doesn't have the magnetic dial though. I also have a Kinetic and set that on 1. It is a centrifigal only set up like the Exo, but the dial is on the outside like the smokes. It casts those type of baits fine, but I notice when I need to fine tune it, I use the spool tension knob more than my reels that have a magnetic brake. It also only has four settings compared to the 6 that yours has.

[kstephes033]

I have had an exo since they came out. I have my inner brakes set to the second shortest mark on the dial. Then its is just fine tuning depending on the lure choice at the time with the spool tension knob. Now I use mine for 3/8-1/2oz plastics, so usually im doing shorter pitches for the most part, but when I do need to cast it out it casts just as well or better than any other reel I own (lews, shimano curado's & chronarchs, abu revos, daiwa zillions & ballistics). There is a perfect setting with it, you just gotta go through the fun part of making a cast, opening the side plate and adjusting the dial, then repeating, until you get it set. I would also tighten the spool tension down to where the lure just starts to barely fall (I'm sure you have done this) and then go to town on finding the right setting on the braking system. Once you do find that spot on the dial then you can start to back off the tension knob little by little to let you get more distance.

[Igor Drackenwolf]

I've had some quantum reels in the past that I've had issues with. One annoying thing that happened to more than one reel is that the chrome plating on the handles has bubbled, chipped, and peeled.

I've had a Quantum Smoke spinning reel in my arsenal for three years and have has zero issues. I LOVE that reel for Walleye fishing. It is the lightest-weight spinning reel I've ever owned, and it performs right alongside my nice Shimano and Pfleuger spinning reels.

[ssaamm]

Have to admit. I adjusted the brake under the plate. Had to use bifocals to read it. Now it's working much better. Put it n a new 7ft M action Fenwick rod. It's not the total piece of junk I thought it was.

[RuddyDuck]

Glad to hear you got it working better!